Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEleven’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEleven’. The new cultivar is primarily characterized by its medium-sized, conical-shaped fruit having a strong sweetness and medium acidity and moderate resistance to Strawberry Moftle Virus, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘DrisStrawEleven’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry cultivar designated ‘DrisStrawEleven’ and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry cultivar was discovered in Monterey, Calif. in summer 2004 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent ‘122J81’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘111H69’ (unpatented). The original seedling of the new cultivar was first asexually propagated at a nursery in Shasta County, Calif.

‘DrisStrawEleven’ was subsequently asexually propagated in Shasta County, Calif. and underwent further testing at nurseries in Monterey and San Luis Obispo, Calif. for five years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the new cultivar at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possible to make in color reproductions. The photographs were taken from plants that were 7 months-old.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit including fruit at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 shows the upper and lower surfaces of several of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows the whole fruit.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

FIG. 5 shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves at the three leaf stage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is based on observations taken in Monterey and San Luis Obispo, Calif. from 2004–2008. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawEleven’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawEleven’ was taken from 7 month-old plants and the botanical descriptions of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’ were taken from 7 month-old plants. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Table 1 shows selected plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145) and ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899). Plant characteristics include plant habit, terminal leaflet margin profile, insertion of achenes and fruit production.

TABLE 1 ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Plant habit Upright Flat Between upright globose and flat globose Terminal leaflet Cupped Revolute Revolute margin profile Insertion of Level with Above Below surface achenes surface surface Fruit production, 1400 1609 1412 grams/plant

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new variety compared with plant characteristics of the commercial varieties ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Plant characteristics include plant height, diameter, the number of crowns per plant, habit, the density of individual plants and the vigor.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Plant height 24.4 25.1 24.7 (cm) Plant diameter 37.5 36.5 38.9 (cm) Number of 3 3 3 crowns/plant Habit Upright Flat globose Globose Density of in- Between open Medium Between dividual plant and medium medium and dense Vigor Strong Medium Medium

Table 3 shows leaf characteristics of the new cultivar compared with leaf characteristics of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Leaf characteristics include terminal leaflet length and width in centimeters, length to width ratio, number of teeth per terminal leaflet, shape of teeth, color of upperside and underside of leaf, leaf shape in cross section, leaf blistering, leaf glossiness, number of leaflets, terminal leaflet margin, terminal leaflet length to width ratio, overall leaf shape and shape of leaf apex and base.

TABLE 3 Leaf ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Terminal leaflet 0.76 0.79 0.74 length (cm) Terminal leaflet 0.82 0.76 0.79 width (cm) Terminal leaflet 0.9 1.0 0.9 length/width ratio No. teeth/ 21 23 25 terminal leaflet Shape of teeth Rounded Rounded Rounded Color of RHS 147A RHS 147A RHS 147A upper surface (Dark (Dark (Dark yellow- of leaf yellow-green) yellow-green) green) Color of lower RHS 147C RHS 147C RHS 147B surface of (Medium yellow- (Medium (Medium leaf green) yellow-green) yellow-green) Leaf shape in Concave Slightly Concave cross section concave Leaf blistering Medium Medium Weak Leaf glossiness Medium Medium Medium No. leaflets 3 3 3 Terminal leaflet Cupped Revolute Revolute margin Terminal leaflet: As long as As long as As long as length/width ratio broad broad broad Terminal leaflet Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular shape Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded Rounded base shape Terminal leaflet Rounded Rounded Rounded apex shape

Table 4 shows information about the petiole, the petiolule, the bract, and the stipule of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. This includes petiole length in centimeters, petiole diameter in centimeters, petiole pubescence, pose of hairs on the petiole, color of the petiole, color of the petiolule, petiolule length in centimeters, petiolule diameter in centimeters, bract frequency per petiole, stipule length in centimeters, stipule width in centimeters, stipule pubescence and stipule anthocyanin coloration.

TABLE 4 ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Petiole length 11.2 13.6 11.0 (cm) Petiole diameter 0.403 0.389 0.404 (cm) Petiole Medium Dense Dense pubescence Petiole pose of Upwards Outwards Upwards hairs Petiole color RHS 145A RHS 144C RHS 144C (Medium yellow- (Medium (Medium green) yellow- yellow-green) green) Petiolule color RHS 145B RHS 144C RHS 145B (Medium yellow- (Medium (Medium green) yellow- yellow-green) green) Petiolule length 1.102 1.203 0.734 (cm) Petiolule dia- 0.202 0.151 0.177 meter (cm) Bract frequency 0 0 1 Stipule length 3.3 3.5 3.2 (cm) Stipule width 1.212 0.832 1.167 (cm) Stipule Medium Dense Dense pubescence Stipule antho- Absent or very Absent or very Absent or very cyanin weak weak weak coloration

Table 5 shows stolon characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include the number of stolons, average number of daughter plants, the anthocyanin coloration of the stolons, the thickness of the stolons, and the pubescence of the stolons.

TABLE 5 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Stolon Number Medium Many Between medium and many Average number of 42 17 57 daughter plants Stolon Anthocyanin Medium Strong Strong Stolon Thickness Thick Between medium Medium and thick Stolon Pubescence Medium Dense Medium

Table 6 shows inflorescence characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include inflorescence position relative to foliage, time of flowering, relative flower size, flower diameter in centimeters (measured from petal tip to petal tip), petal shape, relative spacing of petals, petal apex, base and margin, petal length in centimeters, petal width in centimeters, petal length to width ratio, number of petals, petal color, calyx diameter in centimeters (measured on back of flower from sepal tip to sepal tip), diameter of calyx relative to corolla, diameter of inner calyx relative to outer, sepal shape, apex and margin, sepal length in centimeters (measured from sepal tip to point of attachment to receptacle), sepal width in centimeters, number of sepals, receptacle color and anther color.

TABLE 6 Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Inflorescence Beneath Above Above position relative to foliage Time of flowering Between early Between early Between (50% of plants at and medium and medium early and first flower) medium Flower size Medium Medium Medium Flower diameter 2.882 2.835 2.850 (cm) Petal shape Orbicular Orbicular Orbicular Petal spacing Touching to Overlapping Overlapping overlapping Petal apex shape Rounded Rounded Rounded Petal margin Entire Entire Entire Petal base shape Concave- Concave- Concave- convex convex convex Petal length (cm) 1.181 1.133 1.227 Petal width (cm) 1.334 1.200 1.339 Petal length/width 0.9 - As 0.9 - As 0.9 - As ratio long as broad long as broad long as broad Typical and 6 6 6 observed petal number Petal color RHS 155D RHS 155B RHS 155C (White) (White) (White) Calyx diameter 3.307 3.647 3.969 (cm) Calyx diameter Smaller Between larger Larger relative to corolla and much larger Inner calyx Same size Same size Same size diameter relative to outer Sepal shape Elliptical Elliptical Elliptical Sepal apex shape Convex Convex Convex Sepal margin Entire Entire Entire Sepal length (cm) 1.131 1.297 1.330 Sepal width (cm) 0.593 0.560 1.266 Typical and 12 13 13 observed sepal number Receptacle color RHS 1A (Medium RHS 150B RHS 2B yellow-green) (Medium yellow- (Medium green) yellow) Anther color RHS 166A RHS N167C RHS163B (Dark (Light greyed- (Medium greyed-orange) orange) greyed- orange)

Table 7 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include fruiting truss length in centimeters, fruiting truss diameter, number of berries per truss, fruiting truss attitude, fruiting truss color, fruit length in centimeters, fruit truss width in centimeters, fruit length to width ratio, fruit hollow length and width in centimeters, fruit hollow length to width ratio, fruit weight in grams, relative fruit size, predominant fruit shape, difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, band without achenes, unevenness of fruit surface, fruit skin color, evenness of fruit color, fruit glossiness, insertion of achenes, achene coloration (sunward and shaded sides of berry) and the number of achenes per berry.

TABLE 7 ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Fruiting truss 18.0 22.2 25.1 length (cm) Fruiting truss Medium Long Long length-general Fruiting truss 0.551 0.360 0.481 diameter (cm) Number of berries 3 4 4 per fruiting truss Fruiting truss Semi-erect Semi-erect Semi-erect attitude Fruiting truss RHS 144A RHS 144A RHS 144A color at (Medium yellow- (Medium (Medium base of truss green) yellow- yellow-green) green) Fruit length (cm) 4.233 4.327 4.857 Fruit width (cm) 3.930 4.431 4.603 Fruit length/ 1.1 1.0 1.1 width ratio Fruit hollow 1.971 2.055 2.169 length (cm) Fruit hollow 1.190 0.774 0.738 width (cm) Fruit hollow 1.7 2.7 2.9 length/width ratio Fruit weight (g) 24.5 25.6 28.0 Relative fruit size Medium Medium Large Predominant fruit Conical Conical Conical shape Difference in shape Slight Slight Slight between primary & secondary fruits Band without Narrow Narrow Narrow achenes Unevenness of fruit Between weak Between Medium surface and medium medium and strong Fruit skin color RHS 46A RHS 46A RHS 53A (Dark red) (Dark red) (Dark red) Evenness of Even Even Even fruit color Fruit glossiness Between medium Medium Between and strong medium and strong Insertion of Level with Above Below achenes surface surface surface Achene coloration - RHS 183A RHS 183C RHS 180B sunward side of (Dark (Dark (Medium berry greyed-purple) greyed- greyed-red) purple) Achene coloration RHS 180B RHS 152B RHS 150B shaded side (Medium greyed- (Medium (Light yellow- of berry red) yellow- green) green) Achenes per berry 278 345 397

Table 8 shows fruit characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. These characteristics include the harvest maturity, insertion of calyx, pose of calyx segments, size of calyx in relation to fruit, adherence of calyx, firmness of flesh, color of the fruit flesh, evenness of the flesh color, distribution of flesh color, hollow center, sweetness of fruit, acidity of fruit, texture of fruit when tasted, type of bearing, grams of fruit per plant.

TABLE 8 ‘Driscoll Characteristic ‘DrisStrawEleven’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Harvest maturity Late March to Late March to Late March to early November early early November November Insertion of calyx Level Level Level Pose of calyx Spreading Reflexed Reflexed segments Size of calyx Larger Larger Between in relation smaller and to fruit same size Adherence of Strong Medium Strong calyx Firmness of flesh Firm Medium Firm Color of RHS 44B RHS 41B RHS 41A the flesh (Medium (Medium red) (Medium red) red) and RHS and RHS 155A and RHS 155B N155C (white) white white Evenness of Uneven Slightly Slightly uneven flesh color uneven Distribution of Marginal and Marginal and Marginal and flesh color central central central Hollow center Small Medium Small Sweetness Strong Medium Strong Acidity Medium Medium Weak Texture when Coarse Medium Fine tasted Type of bearing Partially Partially Partially everbearing everbearing everbearing Grams of fruit/ 1400 1609 1412 plant

Table 9 shows pest and disease characteristics of the new cultivar compared to ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’.

TABLE 9 Pest, Stress or Disease ‘DrisStrawEleven’ ‘Driscoll Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Tetranychus Susceptible Susceptible Moderately urticae usceptible Botrytis Moderately Susceptible Susceptible fruit rot susceptible Powdery mildew Susceptible Susceptible Susceptible Verticillium wilt Susceptible Moderately Susceptible susceptible Strawberry mottle Moderately Moderately Moderately virus resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas Moderately Moderately Moderately fragariae susceptible susceptible susceptible

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

When ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is compared to the proprietary female parent ‘122J81’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawEleven’ has larger fruit than ‘122J81’. Additionally, ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is partially everbearing, while ‘122J81’ is everbearing.

When ‘DrisStrawEleven’ is compared to the proprietary male parent ‘111H69’ (unpatented), ‘DrisStrawEleven’ has smaller fruit and has a lower chilling requirement than ‘111H69’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant as described and shown herein. 